System and container for liquid saving

ABSTRACT

A liquid saving container for use with a bottle comprising: a housing, where the housing receives liquid; a lid attached to the housing; a seam between the housing and the lid, where the seam improves the seal between the lid and housing; an opening at the center of the lid; a neck within the opening, where the neck extends into the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottle neck into the opening; a closure on the opening, where the closure provides a means to close the opening when not in use. Preferably the liquid saving container includes a weighted base and the seam includes a rubber washer. In one particular embodiment, the opening includes threading to receive the bottle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/750,076 filed on Jun. 25, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 62/107,047 filed on Jun. 25, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container that attaches to a top of abottle to receive any remaining liquids in the bottle.

2. Description of Related Art

Every household contains a variety of bottles and containers containingviscous liquids like lotions, creams, condiments and the like. Duringthe initial use of these bottles, the liquids easily flow from thebottle and out either onto the user's hand, hair, body or other selectedarea. By the time the contents of the bottle are running low, it is muchharder to obtain the liquid. Often the person hits the bottle neckagainst their hand to remove the final bits. Another method is to invertthe bottle and let the liquid drain to the top. This is often messy whenopening the bottle as the remaining liquid rushes from the opening.Another solution, some user's cut open the top of their bottle and thenscrape the insides with a small spatula or knife. This way they canreach the furthest corners of the bottle. Finally, some people even addwater to wash away the last pieces from the sides and edges.

There are limited products that offer a resolution to this problem. Forexample, some condiment bottles are designed to be stored inverted withthe opening at the bottom. This way gravity is continuously pulling theremaining liquids. Additionally, many lotion bottles include a strawthat is long enough to reach into the corners of the bottle. The strawis then able to suck up creams and lotions stuck in the corner. Aproblem with this is that many times these straws do not easily move, sothe user must angle the bottle to get the lotion to drain towards theend. This is often more precarious than simply inverting and hitting thebottle against the hand. Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide adevice that assists a user to collect the remaining portions of liquidwithin their bottles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates a liquid saving container for use with abottle comprising: a housing, where the housing receives liquid; a lidattached to the housing; a seam between the housing and the lid, wherethe seam improves the seal between the lid and housing; an opening atthe center of the lid; a neck within the opening, where the neck extendsinto the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottleneck into the opening; a closure on the opening, where the closureprovides a means to close the opening when not in use. Preferably theliquid saving container includes a weighted base and the seam includes arubber washer. In one particular embodiment, the opening includesthreading to receive the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likeelements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a liquid saving container inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a liquid saving container in anopen potion in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the descriptionof several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a container that attaches to a top of abottle to receive any remaining liquids in the bottle. The presentinvention provides a liquid saving container to enable a user to collectthe remaining liquids within a bottle. The liquid saving containercomprises a container with a lid. Within a middle portion of the lid isan opening to receive the top of the bottle. After the liquid savingcontainer is fastened atop the bottle, the bottle is inverted therebyallowing the remaining lotions, body washes, creams and the like. Withthe liquid saving container the user is afforded a practical way to usetheir entire bottle of liquid.

Turning now descriptively to the drawing, referring to FIG. 1, aperspective view of a liquid saving container 10 is shown in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The liquid savingcontainer 10 includes a housing 12 with a lid 14. The lid 14 may screwor snap onto the housing 12. Between the housing 12 and the lid 14 is aseam 16. The seam 16 may include a rubber washer to ensure that thehousing 12 remains airtight. At a bottom portion of the housing 12 is aweighted base 18. The weighted base 18 ensures that the liquid savingcontainer 10 remains in place while supporting a bottle.

An opening 20 is preferably positioned at the center of the lid 14. Theopening 20 includes to a neck 22 that extends into the housing 12. Theopening 20 is threaded to receive a bottle neck. A closure 24 may beprovided to seal and cover the opening 20 in order to maintain anairtight seal on the liquid saving container 10. The closure 24 may be ascrew on or snap on lid. In one particular embodiment, the closure 24may also include a hinge that secures the closure 24 to the lid 14,thereby preventing loss during use.

Referring now to FIG. 2 a perspective view of the liquid savingcontainer 10 is shown in accordance with an alternative exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The housing 12 may be available ina range of volumes. For example, the housing 12 may receive five ounces,as illustrated in FIG. 1, or the housing 12 may receive 3.5 ounces asillustrated in FIG. 2. The housing 12 sizes may range from two ounces tofive ounces. The closure 24 easily removes from the lid 14, thereforeenabling attachment to a bottle. The bottle may contain shampoo,conditioner, lotion, body wash, gel, creams or the like. Likewise, thebottle may contain food products such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaiseand other condiments. The range of possibilities of inner contents ofthe bottle is endless including but not limited to household items,automotive, school/office supplies and the like.

During use, the liquid saving container 10 is fastened to the bottle atthe opening 20. The volume size of the housing 12 may coordinate withthe approximate amount of liquid remaining in the bottle. The threadedneck 22 ensures that the bottle is fastened tight. The bottle is theninverted so that the liquid saving container 10 is below the bottle. Theweighted base 18 prevents the liquid saving container 10 and the bottlefrom tipping. While the bottle is upside down the inner contents draininto the housing 12 of the liquid saving container 10. After a fewminutes, a few hours or even a few days, the last of the liquid withinthe bottle will drain into the housing 12, and the bottle may beremoved. The closure 24 is then replaced onto the lid 14. The user maythen use the remaining liquid by removing the lid 14 from the housing12. With the liquid saving container 10 liquids are not wasted by beingthrown away with the bottle. The user is able to save money by using theentire contents of the bottle.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid saving container for use with a bottle comprising: a. a housing, where the housing receives liquid; b. a lid attached to the housing; c. a seam between the housing and the lid, where the seam improves the seal between the lid and housing; d. an opening at the center of the lid; e. a neck within the opening, where the neck extends into the housing, and where the neck provides a means to attach a bottle neck into the opening; f. a closure on the opening, where the closure provides a means to close the opening when not in use.
 2. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, further including a weighted base.
 3. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, where the seam includes a rubber washer.
 4. The liquid saving container according to claim 1, where the opening includes threading to receive the bottle.
 5. A method of obtaining remaining liquid from a bottle comprising the steps of: a. attaching a bottle to an opening of a saving container; b. tightening the bottle into the opening; c. inverting the bottle and container, where the bottle is positioned upside down; d. allowing any remaining liquid in the bottle to transfer to the container; e. removing the bottle from the opening after the remaining liquid drains into the container; and f. placing a closure over the opening. 